Watch-tower and signal-lantern



1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

0. S. PARKHILL.

WATOH TOWER AND SIGNAL LANTERN.

Patented Jan.'30,1883.

ATTORNEY INVENTQR.

WITNESSES (No Model.) I 2Sheets-Sneet 2.

O. S. PARKHILL.

WATCH TOWER AND SIGNAL LANTERN.

No. 271,261. Patented Jan.30, 1883.

VIII/III/I/A W m 7 $17. 4

WITNESSES; 1mm mmnmm INVEN' 9%M ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

cLAIR's. PARKH'ILL, on HORNELLSVILLE, NEW YORK.

WATCH-TOWER AND SIGNAL-LANTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,261, dated January 30, 1853. Application filed August 16, 1832. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAIR S. PARKHILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hornellsville,-in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented certain new and use-' ful Improvements in Watch-Towers and Signal- Lanterns, and Ido hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in watch towers and signal -lanterns to prevent accidents at railroad-crossings and other dangerous places.

The invention consists in novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and set forth in the claims hereto annexed.

Referring to the drawings accompanying this specification and forming apart thereof, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the watchtower and signal-lantern. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the center of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ceiling or upper floor of the tower. Fig. at is aview of the-bottom of the lantern. Fig. 5 shows the lever for turning the lantern.

A in the drawings represents the lantern or turret, which stands on the top of the tower, supported and turned around by means of the pivot a, which extends through the ceiling of watchmans coop. and to which the lever a is firmly secured. Thelantern maybesupported by four rollers,which may run on the track 11 which is on the floor b, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

a a a a are the arms on which the sheet-iron frame of the lantern rests. At a the arms are bent to allow the turretor lantern to revolve sufficiently far to present or expose at will either the word Danger or Safety without said arms hitting the gas-pipe G, which passes from the coop below-to the turret above.

B is the watchmans coop, which is reached, by means ofthe ladder 0, through the trapdoor b. The trap-door is raised and held open by means of a spring. (Not shown in drawings.)

| When the watchman enters the coop he closes The trap door I) (see Fig. 3) through the ceilaccess to the turret A. The lever a is inside the coop directly overhead. It is held at proper places by means of a spring-bolt (not shown in drawings) which catches into notches in the arc (L The windows Benabl'e the watchman to see in every direction. The coop B is warmed by small furnace-D in room 0, or by gas-stove in the coop, or any other means.

E is a large gong on the outside of the coop, which is sounded Whenever the turret is turned in either direction by means of a device connected to the lever a but which is not'shown in the drawings. While the turret is stationary the gong can be sounded by the watchman by means of a crank inside the coop whenever any emergency demands.

The room 0 can be used for storing coal, flags, 860., and can also be used to protect switchmen from storms.

In cases where it is desirable not to obstruct the View the coop and turret can be supported by one or more iron columns of sufficient height to give the watchman an unobstructed view of railroad-trains coming in either direction.

An arm, beam, or any instrument to act as a gate across the street or sidewalk may be connected with the turret and lever,- or either of them, and worked automatically, so as to be opened and closed, raised and lowered, by the watchman in the tower, independently or with the turning of the turret and sounding of the gong.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a watch-tower and signal-lantern, the combination, with a supporting-frame, of the coop B, the lantern or turret A, and a lever, a connected to the pivot of said lantern or turret for partially revolving the same, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a watch-tower and signal-lantern, the combination, with a supporting-'t'rame and coop B, of the turret or lantern A, having the and fastens the door, over which he can walk.

ing ofthe' coop B opens downward and gives arms a, the floor b, provided with the-track 12 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature and means for partially revolving said lantern in presence of two witnesses.

- or turret, substantially as herein shown and y Y described. CLAIR S. PARKHILL.

3. In a watch-tower and lantern, the combination, with the gas-supplying tube G, of Witnesses: the arms at, having the bends a substantially JAMES H. STEVENS, Jr., as and for the purpose specified. v D. W. BROWN. 

